6 troops hurt in NPA landmine attack in Quirino

MANILA-- Six soldiers from the 86th Infantry Battalion were wounded after being hit by a shrapnel from a landmine detonated by the New People's Army in Natipunan town, Quirino Tuesday morning.

This was confirmed by Capt. Jefferson Somera, 5th Infantry Divsion spokesperson, in a message to the PNA.

The incident took place 8:30 a.m. at Barangay Sangbay of the above-mentioned locality.

Somera said government troops, who were aboard two KM-450 trucks, were headed back towards their headquarers in Nagtipunan, shortly after a meeting with local government officials when landmined by the rebels.

The blast wounded six troopers, he added.

Somera said three of the soldiers were immediately given first aid and declared out-of-danger while the remaining three were to the nearby Cabarroguis Hospital .

5th Infantry Division commander Major Gen. Paul T. Atal strongly condemned the attack, calling it a clear violation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law and the international rules of warfare, particularly the protocols on the use of mines and explosives.